Bayous and creeks update as of 7:30 p.m.

Published 2:35 pm, Wednesday, April 20, 2016

PRESS RELEASE

Creeks remain high in northwest Harris County, but are expected to start going down in the next 24 hours, including Cypress Creek. The Addicks and Barker reservoirs are rising as various creeks continue to carry stormwater to those flood-control facilities from hard-hit northwest and west Harris County neighborhoods.

Scattered showers today dropped small amounts of rain throughout the county, with a high of 1.1 inches recorded on Cypress Creek near Huffmeister Road. The period of respite from heavy rains is allowing creeks to drain, which will eventually lead to water receding from homes and streets.

Bayous and Creeks - Status

• Cypress Creek, which flows from far northwest Harris County to U.S. 59 in east Harris County, is starting to crest at it headwaters near the Harris-Waller counties line, but the remainder of the creek is at least 5 feet out of banks, and will remain high for the next 24 hours.

• Little Cypress Creek in northwest Harris County is starting to recede at its headwaters near Becker Road and floodwaters should be back within banks and off of area roadways in the next 12 hours. The lower end of the creek near Cypress Rosehill and Kluge roads will remain out of banks for the next 12 hours.

• Spring Creek in north Harris County is approximately five feet out of banks and will remain high for the next 24 hours.

• South Mayde Creek in west Harris County is approximately 3 feet out of banks and will remain so for 12-18 hours. South Mayde flows to the Addicks Reservoir.

• Bear Creek, another Addicks tributary, remains more than 2 feet out of banks and will remain so for the next 12-18 hours before starting to recede.

• Buffalo Bayou is within its banks and falling, except at the upper end near US 90. It will remain a few feet out of banks along that stretch for the next 12 hours.

• Greens Bayou, and its two primary tributaries, Halls and Garners bayous, are back within banks and starting to recede.

• San Jacinto River:

o West Fork of San Jacinto River at Humble - Major flooding is in progress on the West Fork of the San Jacinto River in Humble with many streets and some homes flooded. The river will crest near 57.5 feet on Thursday.

o San Jacinto River below Lake Houston - Major flooding is in progress and will continue into Thursday morning. Significant roadway flooding is in progress with some flooding in homes at ground level in Highlands, Banana Bend and Rio Villa communities.

All other bayous and creeks are within their banks, but water remains in several streets and low-lying areas, particularly in northwest Harris County.

Addicks and Barker Reservoirs - Status

Extreme rainfall in northwest Harris County has led to significant rises in the Addicks and Barker reservoirs, which were constructed in the 1940s to store water that would otherwise flood downtown Houston. As water levels rise in the reservoirs, roadways that run through them have gone underwater, and neighborhoods immediately adjacent to the reservoirs' western and northern boundaries could see rising water in streets and possibly homes.

Residents are encouraged to monitor local media closely for weather and road conditions updates. Evacuation information will be provided by the Harris and/or Ford Bend counties’ Office of Emergency Management.

Roadways that run through both reservoirs are underwater and will remain impassable for several days up to several weeks. Those include:

Addicks Reservoir:

• State Highway 6 is closed from Clay Road to Park Row. The Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) encourages motorists to use FM 529 as an alternate.

• Harris County Precinct 3's north-south North Eldridge Parkway is impassable from Dairy-Ashford to Clay Road.

• The east-west Clay Road is impassable from SH 6 to Brittmore Drive. TXDOT has coordinated with the Harris County Toll Road Authority to waive tolls at the Clay Road southbound entrance ramp to the Sam Houston Parkway toll road for the duration of this closure.

• All internal roads in the reservoir, including Patterson Road, Bear Creek Drive and War Memorial Street, are impassable.

• All recreational facilities are closed.

Barker Reservoir:

• The east-west Westheimer Parkway is impassable through the reservoir, from FM 1093 to South Fry Road.

• South Barker-Cypress Road from Westheimer Parkway to FM 1093 is impassable.

• All recreational facilities are closed.

April 17-18 Storm Overview

A total of 240 billion gallons of rainwater fell over Harris County late April 17 through early April 18, resulting in major flooding in streets and homes. Residents in approximately 110 subdivisions have reported house flooding. A federal disaster was declared for Harris and eight surrounding counties Monday afternoon, after requests were sent to Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

Rainfall amounts averaged 14 - 17 inches over northwest Harris County and Waller County with a large swath of the county receiving 5-10 inches. Flood-affected neighborhoods include Katy, Cypress, Tomball, Klein, Spring, Jersey Village, Greenspoint, Aldine, and Meyerland.

Affected Harris County residents are urged to report house flooding at www.readyharris.org/go/survey/1829/11787/ or by calling the Harris County Flood Control District’s phone bank at 713-684-4000, which will close at 10 pm tonight (April 20) and reopen at 6 am tomorrow (April 21).

About the Harris County Flood Control District

The Harris County Flood Control District provides flood damage reduction projects that work, with appropriate regard for community and natural values. With more than 1,500 bayous and creeks totaling approximately 2,500 miles in length, the Flood Control District accomplishes its mission by devising flood damage reduction plans, implementing the plans and maintaining the infrastructure.